Here is one continent unlike North America, where the food grown still has nutritional value left, be it in decreasing quantities, as modern agricultural practices deplete the soil. The red meat comes from non-feedlots and the food is not as rotten in quality as in some other places around the world, but lobbyist enhanced commercial policies are doing everything to not let it lag behind too far of the US, where the nutrient value of food, except perhaps organic foods, has deteriorated dramatically.
Next to an wide variety of menus all over Europe, enhanced by immigrants running wild, dragging along their dishes that they offer to an increasingly curious crowd in their restaurants, at the home of the average ethnic Western European the variety of food is quite traditional. While not all that hard to get used to, if one loves cheese, breads, pate’d meats, bacon, eggs and minced meat balls, certainly not all that healthy. The best food is the one made at home, and people do miracles with simple things. And a large section of the population does eat brown rice, organic veggies, fish and lean meats, but many have done this for ages and it is not something remarkably noteworthy among these mostly more liberal, health types, who don’t indulge on soft drinks, beer and bacon in anyway.
Health food stores exist in most cities, and some variations of organic vegetables and brown rice pops up in nearly all supermarkets but do not come close in offering the prodigious volume of a choices that Trader Joe’s or Whole Foods offer in the states.
Conclusion: It is ironic that the US, known for its fast food, enourmous selection of junk food and the highest rates of obesity, also has a far better selection of healthy foods than Europe. Pastas, Pizza and Caprese are not big on my menu but if your in Italy it is a must have. Tomatoes were the tasties conbined with the freshest basil and mozzarella cheese. Delicious.
Due to the obsession for fancy, processed foods, Europeans and Americans, for the first time in history, are heading downward the same path of unhealthy eatting and health ailments.
No matter how hard it may be to drive ourselves to change the way we eat, to control our cravings and unhealthy habits, its worth all the efforts as eventually it all catches up to you later on in life leaving you lethargic, depressed, overweight and unfortunately even hospitalized. I think you want to reach the age of 60, or even at 80 years old and find yourself still being energetic, full of zest and with a spring in your step. In order to do that you need to take care of the human vehicle, your body,
by eating mainly unprocessed food, dropping the sugar, sodium, fat and starches. Atleast then we know we are giving our bodies what it needs to live our genetic potential.
No matter where we are there is almost always something good to eat, if not, then moderate intake will keep us going without the detrimental effects to our health.